Effects of Feeding X-Irradiated Pork to Rats, on their Thiamine Nutrition as Reflected in the Activity of Erythrocyte Transketolase

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Abstract
Chemical analysis showed that thiamine was destroyed to the extent of 92 and 98% in pork which was exposed to ionizing radiations at levels of 2.79 and 5.58 megarad, respectively. Unirradiated pork, when incorporated into diets at 35% on a dry weight basis contained sufficient thiamine to support normal growth and normal erythrocyte transketolase activity in rats. X-irradiated pork, unsupplemented with thiaminc, resulted in growth retardation of rats to the extent of 53 and 63% and a depression of erythrocyte transketolase to the extent of 83 and 94% (on a hexose basis) when fed to rats at 35% of the diet on a dry weight basis for a 4-week feeding period. Treatment of the rats fed the diet containing irradiated pork with thiamine hydrochloride resulted in a rapid resumption of the normal growth rate and a concomitant increase in erythrocyte transketolase activity.